Self-references are the breaking-the-fourth-wall of music, and there’s something delightfully jarring about hearing a band talk about themselves in their own song. Here’s a list of six bands that have made that nod to themselves, and the songs they did it with, from Green Day to Wilco to the Beastie Boys.
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6 Bands Who Have Self-Referenced in Various Songs
“Who The F–k Are Arctic Monkeys?” — Arctic Monkeys
When Arctic Monkeys burst onto the U.K. scene it was with dense and nervy lyricism and an acute sense of disdain for the state of the music industry. They channeled this into derisive songs like “Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong, But…” from their debut album and the early track “Who the F–k Are Arctic Monkeys?” The latter asks the question, In five years’ time will it be / Who the f–k’s Arctic Monkeys?, proclaiming their contempt for the way the music industry chews up bands and spits them out, rendering them all but forgotten in a few short years. That certainly hasn’t happened to Arctic Monkeys, but that self-referential nod makes the song one of the band’s clever trademarks.
“Rhymin’ & Stealin’” and “Fight For Your Right” — Beastie Boys
When the Beastie Boys weren’t telling everyone they were from Brooklyn, they loved to tell everyone they were the Beastie Boys. The trio was notoriously self-referential, specifically in the tracks “Rhymin’ & Stealin’” and “Fight For Your Right,” both from their 1986 debut License to Ill. The former is the opening track on the album and it hits you square in the chest with sharp line after sharp line. In particular, they reference themselves in the lines One for all and all for one / Takin’ out emcees with a big shotgun / All for one and one for all / Because the Beastie Boys have gone AWOL.
In “Fight For Your Right,” they reference themselves in the lines Your mom busted in and said ‘What’s that noise?’ / Aw, mom, you’re just jealous, it’s the Beastie Boys. Here they talk about themselves as if they’re not the Beastie Boys, and more as if they’re simply the adolescent speakers defending their music tastes from their mom.
“Green Day” — Green Day
In 1991, Green Day released 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, a compilation album of their earliest recordings. While the song “Green Day” doesn’t explicitly self-reference in the lyrics, it may give an insight into what the band name could mean. The song is clearly about smoking weed, with lines like A small cloud has fallen, the white mist hits the ground / My lungs comfort me with joy / Vegging on one detail, the rest just crowds around / My eyes itch of burning red. Could the name Green Day be a reference to laying around and getting high all day? If you go by this early track, well, yeah.
“The Warning” — Hot Chip
From their 2006 album The Warning, the title track uses a self-reference with more of a threatening aura. The chorus is comprised of the titular warning, with the lines, Hot Chip will break your legs / Snap off your head / Hot Chip will put you down / Under the ground. It’s all backed by a chilled-out electro-pop beat that belies the song’s more ominous lyrics. This self-referential moment is interesting as it paints the band as a sinister presence in the narrative, something to be worried about. It gives big mob boss energy when you consider the content. Something about it reminds me of the Pavement B-side “Harness Your Hopes,” where Stephen Malkmus sings Show me a word that rhymes with Pavement / And I won’t kill your parents / And roast them on a spit.
“This Is Just A Modern Rock Song” — Belle and Sebastian
Appearing on Belle and Sebastian’s 1998 album of the same name, “This Is Just A Modern Rock Song” takes an individual approach to self-reference. Near the end of the song, band members Stevie Jackson and Stuart Murdoch reference themselves and drummer Richard Colburn by name. Stevie’s full of good intentions / Richard’s into rock and roll / Stuart’s staying in, he thinks it’s a sin / That he has to leave the house at all. It’s a cheeky nod that smacks of late-90s creativity. Something about this song reminds me of “Harness Your Hopes” too, but that’s more overall vibe than anything.
“Wilco (The Song)” — Wilco
“Wilco (The Song)” from Wilco (The Album) by Wilco (The Band) is a masterclass in self-reference. The song asks various questions of the listener, such as Are you under the impression / That this isn’t your life? and Are times getting tough? / Are the roads you travel rough? The chorus reminds us that Wilco / Wilco / Wilco will love you, baby. No matter what we’re going through in life, Wilco will be there for us, a sonic shoulder for you to cry on. And isn’t that reassuring?
Featured Image by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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